More Information

Ernst: Sales tax mistake at Goodwill no fraud

Published: Saturday, March 30, 2013 at 11:04 p.m.

Last Modified: Saturday, March 30, 2013 at 11:04 p.m.

Goodwill Industries Manasota has been charging its customers too much sales tax at some of its stores.

No one knows how much money is involved. No one is sure how many customers were shortchanged. But since Jan. 9, spread over as many as 19 stores, multiplied by potentially thousands of transactions, it could add up quickly.

A customer actually pointed out the problem on March 18.

Becky Noble of Sarasota had shopped over a five-week period at four Goodwill stores, using coupons that promised $15 off a purchase of $60 or more.

“I'm one of those old-school people who keep all my receipts,” she says.

When she examined them more closely at home, she discovered the stores had ignored the coupons in computing the sales tax. So, she was charged tax on the full purchase price, in violation of Florida regulations that require merchants to subtract the value of coupons before figuring taxes.

This didn't look good, especially for a nonprofit such as Goodwill, whose mission calls for placing people into jobs and whose stores sell primarily donated goods to people trying to stretch their dollars.

And wouldn't you know it, Noble's boyfriend, who helped her discover the discrepancy, happens to be Michael Figgins, well-known in Sarasota County government circles for his acerbic emails to and about the county commissioners.

He and Noble have filed complaints with the Florida Department of Revenue, which administers sales taxes, and with the Better Business Bureau.

In emails to the Herald-Tribune, Figgins called the tax overcharge a “scam.”

“I personally think Goodwill is doing some good things in the community, but we can't have them stealing in the name of charity,” he wrote.

OK. Everyone take a deep breath.

Goodwill acknowledged its mistake. By March 19, the day after Noble reported it, the problem was fixed, according to the company.

Vice President Veronica Miller says new checkout software failed to account for the coupons. That's not going to happen again, she says.

Goodwill placed signs at all its registers, notifying customers about what had happened. “If you have a receipt showing the excess tax charge, Goodwill will gladly refund the money,” the signs say. Those who claim they were shorted, but have no receipts, will receive gift certificates, according to Miller.

The nonprofit also notified customers through a blanket email and posted a notice on the home page of its website at www.experiencegoodwill.org.

In short, Goodwill has handled this just about as well as any organization could.

As for scamming or theft, that seems unlikely as both call for intentional actions from which someone would benefit. In this case, Goodwill gets nothing from overcharging on sales tax. The state receives the money.

It's fortunate that Noble and Figgins reported it, though, before it stretched into more months and money.

A couple lessons to carry from the experience: Keep those receipts; you never know when you'll need them. And, check those sales tax lines. If Goodwill can overcharge for two months and no one notices, imagine what the scoundrels out there are doing.

<p>Goodwill Industries Manasota has been charging its customers too much sales tax at some of its stores.</p><p>No one knows how much money is involved. No one is sure how many customers were shortchanged. But since Jan. 9, spread over as many as 19 stores, multiplied by potentially thousands of transactions, it could add up quickly.</p><p>A customer actually pointed out the problem on March 18.</p><p>Becky Noble of Sarasota had shopped over a five-week period at four Goodwill stores, using coupons that promised $15 off a purchase of $60 or more.</p><p>“I'm one of those old-school people who keep all my receipts,” she says.</p><p>When she examined them more closely at home, she discovered the stores had ignored the coupons in computing the sales tax. So, she was charged tax on the full purchase price, in violation of Florida regulations that require merchants to subtract the value of coupons before figuring taxes.</p><p>This didn't look good, especially for a nonprofit such as Goodwill, whose mission calls for placing people into jobs and whose stores sell primarily donated goods to people trying to stretch their dollars.</p><p>And wouldn't you know it, Noble's boyfriend, who helped her discover the discrepancy, happens to be Michael Figgins, well-known in Sarasota County government circles for his acerbic emails to and about the county commissioners.</p><p>He and Noble have filed complaints with the Florida Department of Revenue, which administers sales taxes, and with the Better Business Bureau.</p><p>In emails to the Herald-Tribune, Figgins called the tax overcharge a “scam.”</p><p>“I personally think Goodwill is doing some good things in the community, but we can't have them stealing in the name of charity,” he wrote.</p><p>OK. Everyone take a deep breath.</p><p>Goodwill acknowledged its mistake. By March 19, the day after Noble reported it, the problem was fixed, according to the company.</p><p>Vice President Veronica Miller says new checkout software failed to account for the coupons. That's not going to happen again, she says.</p><p>Goodwill placed signs at all its registers, notifying customers about what had happened. “If you have a receipt showing the excess tax charge, Goodwill will gladly refund the money,” the signs say. Those who claim they were shorted, but have no receipts, will receive gift certificates, according to Miller.</p><p>The nonprofit also notified customers through a blanket email and posted a notice on the home page of its website at www.experiencegoodwill.org.</p><p>In short, Goodwill has handled this just about as well as any organization could.</p><p>As for scamming or theft, that seems unlikely as both call for intentional actions from which someone would benefit. In this case, Goodwill gets nothing from overcharging on sales tax. The state receives the money.</p><p>It's fortunate that Noble and Figgins reported it, though, before it stretched into more months and money.</p><p>A couple lessons to carry from the experience: Keep those receipts; you never know when you'll need them. And, check those sales tax lines. If Goodwill can overcharge for two months and no one notices, imagine what the scoundrels out there are doing.</p>